Beulah - Page 93/348

"Who is so ill as to require a second visit to-night?"

She very rarely asked anything relative to his professional

engagements, but saw that he was more than usually interested.

"Why, that quiet little Quaker friend of yours, Clara Sanders, will

probably lose her grandfather this time. He had a second paralytic

stroke to-day, and I doubt whether he survives till morning."

"Are any of Clara's friends with her?" asked Beulah quickly.

"Some two or three of the neighbors. What now?" he continued as she

rose from the table.

"I am going to get ready and go with you when you return."

"Nonsense! The weather is too disagreeable; and, besides, you can do

no good; the old man is unconscious. Don't think of it."

"But I must think of it, and what is more, you must carry me, if you

please. I shall not mind the cold, and I know Clara would rather

have me with her, even though I could render no assistance. Will you

carry me? I shall thank you very much." She stood on the threshold.

"And if I will not carry you?" he answered questioningly.

"Then, sir, though sorry to disobey you, I shall be forced to walk

there."

"So I supposed. You may get ready."

"Thank you." She hurried off to wrap up for the ride and acquaint

Mrs. Watson with the cause of her temporary absence. On re-entering

the study she found the doctor lying on the sofa, with one hand over

his eyes. Without removing it he tossed a letter to her, saying: "There is a letter from Heidelberg. I had almost forgotten it. You

will have time to read it; the buggy is not ready." He moved his

fingers slightly, so as to see her distinctly, while she tore off

the envelope and perused it. At first she looked pleased; then the

black eyebrows met over the nose, and as she refolded it there was a

very decided curl in the compressed upper lip. She put it into her

pocket without comment.

"Eugene is well, I suppose?" said the doctor, still shading his

eyes.

"Yes, sir; quite well."

"Does he seem to be improving his advantages?"

"I should judge not, from the tone of this letter."

"What does it indicate?"

"That he thinks of settling down into mercantile life on his return;

as if he needed to go to Germany to learn to keep books." She spoke

hastily and with much chagrin.